| The American automobile industry began in the early | | | | work on some of the classic antique models of the |
| 20th century and has been a huge factor in creating | | | | past. What car fanatic wouldn't love to turn up the |
| the society we live in today. It was the driving factor | | | | hood of a Model T Ford and customize it to their |
| in creating the system of superhighways linking the | | | | specifications? Or create their own unique "hot rod" |
| country together. It was the driving force in the | | | | from the shell of a discarded antique auto. And who |
| creation of the suburbs, many of which you can only | | | | wouldn't want to play with an engine that is real high |
| get to by car. And, on the negative side, it can be | | | | performance? |
| argued, that it was the primal force in helping to | | | | They See it as an Investment |
| speed the breakup of the nuclear family. It made | | | | If you know the market, know a good mechanic or |
| travel so easy that it became almost trivial for family | | | | are a good mechanic yourself, and are good at |
| members to move cross country and start a family | | | | finding deals - finding, repairing, and reselling antique |
| unit in an entirely new state. | | | | automobiles can be an excellent investment - or |
| Antique car collecting and restoration is a hobby | | | | speculation. Like any other form of investment, there |
| practiced by people all over the world. Even American | | | | are cycles. There are times when the market is |
| celebrities fall in love with them. Jay Leno, in addition | | | | flooded with sellers and few buyers. And conversely, |
| to hosting the Tonight Show, is known for his huge | | | | there are times when you have many buyers vying |
| collection of antique cars and motorcycles going all | | | | for the same model of car. The key is knowing when |
| the way back to the early 20th century. Past stars | | | | to buy, when to sell, and what to look for. |
| know for their love of cars are Larry Hagman and | | | | Nostalgia |
| Steve McQueen. | | | | One of the reasons people love antique cars is that, |
| But you don't have to be a celebrity to love antique | | | | for them, it brings back childhood or teenage |
| cars. People collect them for various reasons. | | | | memories. Maybe they had their first date in that car, |
| They Love the Attention | | | | or that is the car the family when on annual picnics, |
| Do you have a spit polished Model T Ford sitting in | | | | or maybe it was the car to have when they were |
| your garage? Try driving that car down virtually any | | | | young but they couldn't afford it. The nostalgia |
| street in America and it is almost guaranteed people | | | | market is worth billions of dollars and those longing |
| will stop and stare at it. The same will be true for | | | | for the antique autos of their youth account for only |
| almost any classic antique car. If you love being the | | | | a small piece of it. |
| center of attention, this is one surefire way to | | | | Pursuing a love of antique autos is just another way |
| achieve it. | | | | of looking fondly and nostalgically back at our culture |
| They Love Tinkering | | | | and remembering our country's history. |
| Any mechanic in love with automobiles would love to | | | | |